Electric motor



Oct. 13, 1931. A. E. RITTENHOUSE ELECTRIC MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1930 I I [N VENTOR rfiilfiiterzhouse muu 7&8 A TTORNE V v 1931- A. E. RITTENHOUSE 1,327,690

ELECTRIC MOTOR Filed June 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ArflzzwE.Riiterzhouse 711's 4 TTORNE Y Patented Oct. 13, 1931 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR. E. BITTENHOUSE, OF HONEOYE FALLS, NEW YORK ELECTRIC MOTOR Application filed June 4, 1930. Serial No. 459,164.

This invention relates to improvements in electric motors, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive motor of this kind whch may be operated by electric power commonly available and with which a very slow speed may be obtained.

Another object of the invention is to con struct a motor of this kind which may be operated from an alternating current and which consists of very few parts comprising an electro-magnet, an actuator, and a rotor engaged by the actuator.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear from the following de scription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a toy beacon light illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the base showing the motor mounted therein,

parts being removed and broken away to expose underlying parts;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View partly in section showing how the light is mounted Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rotor detached;

Fig, 6 is a transverse vertical section illustrating another embodiment of the invention Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the same, partly broken away and partly in section, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional. view illustrating a detail.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, the invention is shown applied to a toy beacon light of ordinary or well known construction and comprising a lamp 1 mounted at the too of a vertical shaft 2 revolubly supported in a derrick 3. A suitable conductor leads to the lamp through the shaft 2, which may be hollow for the purpose or it may be coiled about the shaft, and which may be grounded to the derrick at the other side of the lamp.

Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 2 to rotate therewith is a rotor 4 in the form of a disk secured to the shaft by means of lock nuts 5 threaded on the end of the shaft, as shown. A sleeve or collar 6 engages the upper side of the nuts 5 and is resiliently engaged by a spring '7 anchored against a fixed part for resiliently holding the shaft on its bearings.

Mounted on a fixed part and having its 60" poles facing the side of the disk 4 at a point adjacent its outer circumference is an electro-magnet 8 of usual construction. One of the terminals of the electro-magnot is ground t ed to the casing or derrick and the other 9 W; is connected with the binding post 10, a second binding post 1O being grounded on the frame. Arranged between the electro-magnet 8 and the face of the disk 4, and which v may be secured directly to the poles of the electro-magnet, is a pad or support 11 on which resilient means in the form of bristles 12 are mounted to engage the face of the disk. These bristles constitute in effect an actuator in the form of a brush, each bristle of which constitutes a resilient or flexible finger which resiliently engages the face of the disk. These fingers are slightly longer than the distance between their support and the disk so that they are flexed by their engagement, such flexure being toward the direction in which the disk rotates. The disk is comparatively thin and constructed of resilient magnetic sheet metal so that when the magnet is energized, the disk is flexed against the bristles, and when the magnet is deenergized, the disk is released and tends to resume its normalposition. The bristles resiliently engage the disk and move it forwardly a short distance when the magnet is energized. and move forwardly over its surface when the magnet is deenergized and the disk resumes its normal shape under the action of its own resiliency.

When the magnet is connected with an alternating current of high frequency, the magnet is energized and deenergized in such rapid succession that a substantially continuous rotation is imparted to the rotor or disk.

A motor constructed as above described has been found to be suitable for use where only a small amount of power is required to be delivered. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is shown a construction adapted to deliver a greater amount of power. In this construction, a disk 20 similar to the disk 4c and also constructed of thin sheet magnetic material is fixed on the end of a shaft 21. Arranged diametrically opposite each other on a fixed support 22 and having their poles arranged adjacent one face of the disk 20 are the electro-magnets 23 and 24. Mounted on a brack- 'et 25 secured to a fixed support, and arranged one opposite each of the magnets :23 and Q-l, are actuators in the form of resilient flexible fingers 26 and 27 arranged to resiliently engage the face of the disk opposite each of the magnets 23 and 24. Suitable conductors 28 and 29 connect the electro-magnets with a suitable source of alternating current.

hen the electro-magnets and 24 are connected with an alternating current of high frequency, they are energized and deenergized in rapid succession. hen the magnets are energized, the disk 20 is attracted at diametrically opposite points adjacent its periphery, which fiexes the disk at these points away from the spring fingers, permitting the spring fingers to flex toward the disk and engage new position thereon. When the magnets are deenergized, the disk returns to its normal position under the action of its own resiliency toward and into engagement with the spring fingers, which frictionally engage the surface of the disk, resulting in turning it forward about its axis. This operation is repeated so rapidly that an apparent continuous motion is imparted to the disk or rotor. The fingers 26 and 27 are of greater length than the distance between their supports and the face of the disk so that they are flexed against or resiliently engage the face of the disk. Both of the actuators are flexed in the same direction, which is the direction in which the disk is rotated.

Although only two possible embodiments of the invention are shown and described herein, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as come within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A motor comprising a rotor of resilient material, a flexible resilient finger engaging said rotor, and an electro-inagnet for flexing the rotor toward and from said flexible finger.

2. An electric motor comprising a resilient rotor, a. finger resiliently engaging said rotor, and an electr c-magnet for flexing the rotor toward and from said finger.

3. An electric motor comprising a resilient rotor in the form of a disk, a finger resiliently engaging the face of said disk adjacent its outer circumference, an electro-magnet for flexing said disk toward and from said finger, and a source of alternating current connected with said electro-magnet.

4. An electric motor comprising a resilient rotor in the form of a disk, aplurality of fingers resiliently engaging the face of said. disk, an electro-magnet, and a source of alternating current connected with said magnet for successively flexing the rotor toward and from said fingers.

5. An electric motor comprising a resilient rotor in the form of a disk, a plurality of fingers resiliently engaging the face of said disk adjacent its outer circumference and flexed in the direction of rotation of said rotor, an electro-magnet, and a source of alternating current connected with said mag net for flexing the rotor toward and from said fingers in rapid succession.

6. An electric motor comprising a resilient rotor in the form of a disk, a brush comprising a plurality of fingers resiliently engaging the face of said disk and flexed in the direction of rotation of said rotor, an electromagnet having its poles arranged adjacent the face of said disk, and a source of alternating current connected with said magnet for flexing the rotor toward and from the resilient fingers.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ARTHUR E. RITTENHOUSE. 

